Toy electric railroad



Dec. 8, 1953 J. L. BoNANNo 2,661,852

TOY ELECTRIC RAILROAD Filed April 23, 1949 3 Sheets-'Sheet l Dec. 8, 1953 J. l.. BoNANNo TOY ELECTRIC RAILROAD 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 23, 1949 0 Y Nw .W E 7 2%, MAW# JUMP/.f BYL/ Dec. 8, 1953 J. L. BoNANNo 2,661,852

TOY ELECTRIC RAILROAD Filed April 25, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 L? Tick-El I.

L @WW/www T TOP/VE Y center line of the track section, so as to leave three connecting webs 23a, 23h, 23e, a depressed well 26 in the center web 23e and downwardly bent end flanges 2l. At the sides and ends of the openings 24 and 25 downwardly extending prongs 22, 29 are provided. This base stamping is adapted to support all track elements and wiring forming the completed track section.

Two insulating plates 3i! and 3l slightly larger than the openings 2d and 25 are secured below the platform 23 of the base stamping by the prongs 2B and 29 which are passed through holes 32 and 33 on the sides and ends of the insulating plates. The plates 3S and 3l are each provided with three holes 365 so disposed as tobe aligned with the center line of the track section when the insulating plates are in place as well as three aligned holes 35 so located as to be substantially midway between the track rails 22, 22 and the center line of the track section.

The holes 35 are employed to support supplemental rail elements indicated at 36 and 3S',

these rail elements being made of sheet metal and having three pairs of downwardly extending prongs 3l adapted to enter the holes 35 and be wardly extending prongs indicated at il which pass through the holes 34 in the insulating plates and are bent outwardly as shown in Figure 4. The central portion of the power rail element i8 is widened as indicated at 42, 42 so as to provide an aperture 43.

An insulating spool element 44 has an upper diamond-shaped end l5 stepped as indicated and adapted to be received in the opening 43 and a lower round end 4S adapted to be received in the well 28. This spool element carries a coil indicated at lil and a core indicated at 48. The bottom or" the core is insulated from the bottom of the well 255 by an insulating sheet indicated at 48. Insulating the core makes it impossible for the collector roller of the locomotive to be grounded as it passes by or for the armature ci the coupler or accessory to eiect' a short circuit should it contact the power rail. In assembling these parts the wound spool is inserted in place between the base member and the power rail meml.

ber and held there when the prongs 4l are bent over as above described. The leads l and 5t for the coil di pass out through holes El in the side walls of the well 25 and the lead 49 is grounded to a downwardly bent prong 52 formed out of the base stamping 28. For symmetry of structure, two such prongs are provided in the stamping, but only one is used.

On the drawings the left ends of the track rails 22, Z2 and the third or power rail im frxedly carry conducting pins 53 and 54 adapted to slidably enter sockets 55 provided at the other ends of the rails or cooperable sections of track so as to permit assembling the special track section into a toy track layout having the wheel bearing.

rails 22a, 22a and power rail @da (see Fig. 9), thereby providing continuous trackage for train operation and connections for propulsion current. The trackage is connected to a transformer T in the usual manner so that propulsion current potential is imposed upon the third rail and track rails.

The special track section is provided with a four conductor cable 56 which extends out through a grommet 53 carried in an opening 58 at the center of the track section as indicated. The conductor @il is connected to the power rail by soldering it to one of the prongs i as indicated at Gil', the conductor El is soldered to one of the prongs 3l carried by the supplemental rail 36 as indicated at 6l. The conductor 62 is soldered as indicated at S2 to one of the prongs 37 of the supplemental rail and this prong is also soldered to the lead te for the coil 4l'. The fourth conductor 63 of the four conductor cable is soldered to one of the base carried prongs 28 as indicated at t3. The four conductor cable 5S is connected to a controller indicated at C; this controller being the same as the one shown in my prior Patent No. 2,232,508 of February 18, 1941. It has a central insulating post Q4 adapted to receive four contact strips or straps 55, 6, El and S3 connected to the wires Gt, lil, t2 and S3 respectively. An uncoupling push button indicated at arrow 69 on the left of Figures 2 and 9 is adapted to bend the left-hand ends of the straps S5, 66 and 6'? downwardly, bringing them all into contact. This connects the power rail @E through the wire Gil and strip 55 to both the strips E5 and E? and applies potential through lead El to the supplemental rail S6 and through the lead 62 to the supplemental rail 3S and the solenoid coil 'ii, and, as the latter is always grounded, energizes it.

Pushing the right or unloading button 'it on the controller down brings the strip @5 into contact with the strip EG, thereby applying power to the supplemental rail Se' and through an insulating spacer .'i forces the contact El into engagement with the grounded contact 68 so that the supplemental rail 355 is energized and rail 36 grounded.

The track section and controller illustrated in Figures l and 2 and shown with other parts in the other gures ci the drawing form a complete article oi manufacture ready for installation in a toy track layout. As above stated, the special track section herein is suitable for controlling not only toy cars of the type diagrarninatically shown in my Patent No. 2,232,508, but also for controlling toy vehicles having armature operated accessories.

A toy car C-l with a circuit of the prior art type is indicated at the right of Figure 9. It has trucks indicated at l2, l each carrying couplers l, i5 actuated by coils 5i and connected to the current collectors 78, 'i8' disposed so as to contact the supplemental rails 36 and St respectively when in proper position on the special section of track. The car C-l also carries another electrically operated accessory i9 connected to the current collectors 18, 'id' so that when the car C-i is over the special track section 2d, one can release its couplers or operate the accessory by manipulating the controller C as heretofore. The truck 'i2 may carry a roller ld riding on the power rail for energizing a lamp it.

One of these couplers is illustrated in Figure 4a. Here the coupler head di?, suitably carried by the truck and grounded, is provided with a recess 8i adapted to accommodate a knuckle 82 carried on a pin S3 and biased in a clockwise or outward direction by a spring Sii. The knuckle has a latching arm t5 extending into the recess 3l and coupling arm @t which extends from the side of the coupler head carrying the pivot i2 toward the other side. The knuckle 82 is biased to an unlatched or uncoupled position shown in dotted lines by the spring` 8d and when the knuckle is pushed in to tension the spring, as by pressure applied to the latching arm 85, the end autres:

ai of the knuckle passes .by the end -oi a inagnetiaable armature Sie urged outwardly by a spring Se, the parts being latched as indicated in full lines in Figure 4c. The operation .of these couplers is more fully .described in application Ser. No. 719,355 above referred to.

The vehicle carried armature operated accessories and truck body 94. lThe axles 9,3 .support a hori.- ff

zontal plate Se by 4means of hook-s 95. flhe plate 9.5 has an upwardly bent portion 2l riveted at 98 to a cast coupler head t9, so as to carry it at the same height as the similar coupler head 8i! on the other type of cars. The coupler head 99 carries a knuckle let similar to knuckle 82 pivoted at iti and urged to the outer or uncoupling position by a spring E92.

knuckle has a latching arm |il-3 and a coupling arm ist. similar to the corresponding i. f

parte shown in Figure ea. Here the latching arm has a vertical face at it and a camming face at it. These .latter mentioned faces are cooperable witi an upwardly extending pin Mil caron a magnetic armature |68. This armature i* has hooked extensions iil entering through openings Mii in the axle carried plate 95 and is recessed as indicated at I to receive the head iii of a pin 3 which extends through an opening lili in the plate 95 and carries a flat spring H5 received in notches lit in the side walls Hi of the plate 915. The spring ||5 normally holds the armature |08 in the extreme upper full line position in Figures 6 and '7 and keeps the pin lll? in latching position with respect to the knuckle it. Where all the cars of a train are the C-| type and have couplers such as 'I4 and l5 (Fig. 4a), they may be uncoupled from one another or from any cooperable coupler by placing the car so lthat the current collectors 78, 13 are on the rails 36, 3E" and energizing such rails by the uncoupling button 69'. Where some or all of the cars of a train are of the C-Z type with track magnet operated couplers, uncoupling is eiected by placing the car so that the armature |88 for the uncoupler is above the track magnet and energizing the saine by the uncoupling butn ton 59. The parts are so proportioned that when the armature m8 is in its lowermost position, it comes very close to but does not contact with the exposed face of the core 43. This assures good magnetic operation and avoids the possibility of mechanical obstruction arising.

The train will be operatedV over the track by usual locomotive whose motor is indicated at M at the right of Figure 9. The coupler or other accessory actuated by the track magnet operates better when the train is stopped in the proper position to place it over the track magnet, butin some instances these devices may be actuated while the train is in motion.

The toy car of Figures 10 to 12 has the previously described trucks Sil, one of which is shown, a car platform and a car body |2| with sliding door |22 with lug |22. The car platform |20 carries a trigger housing |23 which receives .a steel trigger pin |24 having a collar |25 bearing on an expansion spring |2t. The lower end of the kpin |243 is secured to a magnetizable button |21 adapted to be placed over the core 48 of the track magnet so that the trigger pin may be pulled .down when Athe track coil is energized.

The platform |22# lcarries a plate |28 pivoted at |29 and biased ina counter-.clockwise direction by a spring |39. The plate has a linger |28 engageable with lug |22' to open .the door and has .a slot i3| to receive the keylike end .|32 of an arm |33 pivoted at |34. The arm |33 has an upwardly bent prong 35 carrying a figure IE6.

When the trigger pin is up, the parts are latched in the full line position of Figure 10 and when it is down, the spring it@ swings the plate and `opens the door and this movement also moves the figure out to the doorway as shown in dotted lines.

Pushing the door back to closed position shifts the plate back to full line position, whereupon the trigger pin is urged upwardly to lock plate |28 in place.

Figure 1.3 diagraminatically shows an arrangement wherein the armature ldd acts on a ratchet drum to advance it part of a revolution. The ratchet drum carries a connnu'tator with contacts |42 and Hit, one oi which is connected .to a load such as a searchlight ide, while the other is connected to a roller M5 carried by the truck and bearing on 'the power rail so that the lamp may be turned on and on by energizing the track magnet when the car is located so as to place the armature hiel over the track magnet.

Since rit is obvious that the invention may be embodied in other forms and constructions with-V in the .scope of the claims, i wish it to be under stood that the particular form shown is but one of these forms, and various modifications and changes being possible, i do not otherwise limit myself in any way with respect thereto.

What is claimed is:

l. A toy electric railroad comprising a track havin-g continuous track rails connected to one side or a power source, a central third rail connected to the other side oi' the power source, an electromagnet midway between the wheel bearing rails and having a core piece terminating at substantially the level of the third rail, a sup plernental insulated rail disposed between the third rail and each track rail, wiring connecting the .coil ci" the electroinagnet to the third rail and one of the supplemental rails, a train ini cluding toy cars having wheels bearing on the rnagnetiaable armature between the track rails and above the level oi the third rail and core piece and a latcheti, armature releasable coupler cooperable with the coupler on the first car or with another latched, armature releasable cou-- pler enanother ear, and switching means for simultaneously energizing both supplemental rails so thatthecoil of the electromagnet may be energized as well as a coupler on the i'irst inentioned car if in position whereby two like cars of either type or two cars, one of each type, may be automatically uncoupled.

2. In a toy electric railroad, a track layout having parallel Vwheel bearing rails and a continuous power rail intermediate the wheel bearing rails and insulated therefrom, the power rail having a widened portion provided with an aperture, a toy train having current collecting means contacting the power rail and wheeled trucks on the wheel bearing rails, the train including a toy railroad vehicle having a magnetizable armature disposed over the power rail and biased upwardly to provide a narrow air gap and mechanical clearance, and a vehicle carried, armature actuated device, the track carrying an electromagnet below the level of the power rail and having an insulated core piece entering the aperture in the power rail and terminating at substantially the level ci the power rail, the electromagnet acting on the magnetizable armature when thereover to attract the saine and actuate the device on the vehicle.

3. in a toy electric railroad as claimed in claim 2, wherein one of the trucks carries the arma ture releasable device in the orrn o a latched coupler hook.

4. In a toy electric railroad as claimed in claim 2, wherein the armature actuated device is carried by the vehicle intermediate the trucks.

5. A toy railroad track section comprising a sheet metal base, wheel bearing rails, a power rail intermediate the wheel bearing rails, the rails having bearing surfaces above the level of the base, means for insulatedly supporting the power rail from the base, the power rail having a widened portion between its ends and an electromagnet carried between the base and the widened portion oi the power rail and having a xed core piece terminating at substantially the level or the power rail.

6. A toy railroad track section as claimed in claim 5, wherein the electromagnet includes an insulating spool confined between the base and power rail and carrying a coil connected at one end to a wheel bearing rail.

7. A toy railroad track section comprising a sheet metal base having its side edges bent to form two parallel wheel bearing rails of inverted U-shaped cross-section, the base having two longitudinally extending openings and central and end connecting elements, insulating plates secured opposite the openings, a power rail secured at its ends to each of the insulating plates and having a widened apertured central portion above the central connecting element, and an electromagnet carried between the central connecting element and the central portion of the power rail and having a core piece terminating at substantially the level of the power rail.

8. A toy railroad track section as claimed in claim 7, wherein each of the insulating plates carries a supplemental conducting rail parallel with the other rails and between a wheel bearing rail and an end portion of the power rail.

9. A toy railroad track section having parallel wheel bearing rails and an intermediate insulated power rail, the power rail having a widened apertured portion, and an electromagnet having a vertical core piece within the apertured portion or the power rail to induce a magnetic eld above the level of the power rail and completely insulated, except for its upper exposed face which is at substantially the level of the power rail.

10. A toy railroad track section comprising a base, a power rail spaced above and insulated 8 from the base, and having a vertical aperture, an insulating spool having its lower end i'ltted to the top of the base and its upper end rltted into the aperture in the power rail, a coil wound about the spool and a core piece nxedly secured in the spool with its upper face substantially at the level of the power rail.

11. A combined truck and coupler for toy cars comprising a truck body carrying axles and wheels adapted to support it from a toy track, and a coupler head, the coupler head carrying a knuckle, spring biased toward open or uncoupling position and movable toward closed or coupling position, a magnetizable armature niovably carried by the truck body and disposed between the wheels slightly above the level or" the treads of the wheels, and a spring biasing the armature upwardly, the armature carrying a latch cooperable with the knuckle for normally latching it in closed position and releasing it upon actuation of the armature downwardly.

12. A combined truck and coupler for toy cars as claimed in claim il, wherein the armature is pivotally secured to an axle carried plate and the plate carries the coupler head.

i3. A combined truck and coupler for toy cars comprising a truck body carrying axles and wheels adapted to support it from a toy track, a plate secured to the axles and having an upwardly bent portion which carries a coupler head, the coupler head carrying a knuckle spring biased toward open or uncoupling position and movable toward closed or coupling position, a lnagnetiaable armature having one end pivotally secured to the plate intermediate the axles, and its other end adjacent the coupler head and carrying a latch cooperaole with the knuckle for latching it in closed or coupling position when the armature is in its upper position and for releasing the knuckle when the armature is in its lower position, and a spring interconnecting the armature and plate to hold the armature up.

14. In a combined truck and coupler for toy cars, two spaced wheel bearing axles, a plate iixedly secured to the axles and below the axles, the plate having an extension above the level of the axles, a coupler head carried by the extension, a knuckle pivotally carried by the coupler head and spring biased toward open position, a magnetizable armature under the plate and having one end pivoted to the plate midway between the axles and carrying a latch eooperable with the knuckle for latching it in closed position and for releasing the knuckle when the armature is in its lower position, a pin carried by the armature and extending upwardly through a hole in the plate, and an armature biasing spring between the plate and pins for urging the armature to latching position.

JOSEPH L. BONANNO.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,035,278 Leighton et al Aug. 20, 1912 2,031,682 Smith May 25, 1937 2,232,598 Bonanno Feb. 18, 1941 2,237,662 Ferri Apr. 8, 1941 2,243,671 Ehret May y27, 1941 2,257,473 McKeige et al Sept. 30, 1941 2,288,792 Daniels July 7, 1942 

